The 45-year radio veteran added that it is likely that some of the advertisers that legitimately chose to leave Limbaugh will return.

“I think that some of them are truly outraged to know what’s going on and don’t like Rush Limbaugh and don’t want to be there,” he said. “I think some of them love being there but feel like, ‘maybe we should just, you know, duck for cover for a while and when the smoke clears, when the dust settles, we’ll come back.'”

Harrison noted that while people get angry when he says nice or supportive things about Limbaugh, he’s only interested in promoting broadcasting — both liberal and conservative.

“The fact is, there’s a whole other perspective on this and it’s called broadcasting. It’s an industry, it’s a business, and you know, these guys are not politicians. One of the craziest questions I get asked all the time is, ‘do you think Rush is losing his influence as a political force in this country?’ and I say, ‘I don’t know, who cares? What does it matter?’ I mean, that’s not what he’s paid to do. He’s an entertainer.”

A spokesman for Premiere Radio Networks, Limbaugh’s syndicator, told TheDC that Arbitron’s “Portable People Meter” ratings data for March won’t be in until April, and their nationwide ratings won’t be available until the fall. Arbitron is the leading consumer research company that delivers broadcast radio ratings.